MLB teams
Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Fred Wilpon addresses Mets

MLB, New York Mets

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- In a move that was described as rare by captain David Wright, principal owner Fred Wilpon addressed the New York Mets on Monday morning.

Applause could be heard as the 20-minute meeting broke up inside the team's clubhouse.

Wilpon, 78, has spent more time around the club this spring training. Manager Terry Collins has said the owner has pledged to be more engaged.

The Mets have endured six straight losing seasons, tied with the Houston Astros for the longest active skid in the majors.

Wilpon has not broadly addressed the media since spring training in 2013. He swooped by reporters Monday without commenting. When a reporter began to ask him for his thoughts on the meeting, Wilpon smiled and continued walking.

Wright, amused by the scene, asked: "How'd that go?"

Wright declined to divulge particulars of the meeting, but he described it as a give-and-take between Wilpon and the players.

"There's quite a bit of back-and-forth in every meeting we have," Wright said. "And today was no different."

Wright said the meeting was meaningful because Wilpon rarely takes the time to address the team.

"Fred's always been upbeat," Wright said. "I'd say that the vast majority of conversations I've ever had with Mr. Wilpon have been very upbeat. Nothing different recently."

Wright could not remember the last time Wilpon addressed the team, although casual conversations are more frequent.

"We've seen him a lot. He's around a lot," Wright said. "We talk to him quite a bit."

Michael Cuddyer, in his first year with the Mets, said that an owner addressing his team at a meeting is not atypical around baseball.

"The other two organizations I've been in, they have. Not every single season," Cuddyer said.

Cuddyer similarly described Wilpon's message as upbeat.

"Motivational, inspirational -- that type of route," Cuddyer said.

Wright and manager Terry Collins invited Wilpon to speak.

"He didn't ask us. We asked him," Collins said. "David and I had a conversation with him this winter, because he was down here all winter. We asked him to present the same things he talked about to us to the team. I thought it was very, very impactful. I think the players reacted very positively to the whole thing."

Coach Tim Teufel, a member of the Mets' 1986 World Series championship team, as well as Wright and Cuddyer supplemented Wilpon's message by speaking about their playoff experiences, Newsday reported.

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